The due date of this project will be Monday, March 15th. This means you have two Wednesday's in the computer lab that you can spend researching it online!
INTRODUCTION
John Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men to respond to the struggles and hardships of many Americans during the great depression of the 1930s. Our main characters are migrant workers, (one has a mental disability), who struggle to make ends meet and only have their friendship to guide them to their dreams and hopes. The goal of this project is to increase our understanding of the context of this story so we can better understand the characters and the pressure they face.
OBJECTIVE
Understanding of the background of John Steinbeck and his novel will help in understanding all the issues and themes that are presented in his story.
NOTE: USING THE DISCUSSION TAB
Have you found a website that other students could use for this project? Post it on the discussions attached to this page! Need help finding something? Ask for help in the discussions tab!
WHAT DO WE DO? HOW AM I GRADED?
Step 1: As a group, read the instructions for each role. Each member of the group will be responsible for creating something visual. This visual project should contain answers for each of the questions asked of your role.
Step 2: Discuss and choose which roles each of you would like. Although you will work and research together, each person will be responsible for a different part of the project. These are:
ROLE 1: Geographer
ROLE 2: Sociologist
ROLE 3: Psychiatrist
ROLE 4: Biographer
Step 3: Use the internet to research your project! For each project I will provide some links, but you should try to find extra information where appropriate. Post them for other students to use under "discussion."
Step 4: Complete your visual project. You can do this using traditional materials, (paper, felt pens, paint etc) or you could use your computer! For example, try looking at the glogster educational website which allows students to create interactive, digital posters. Once you create one, you would link it to this wiki!
Assessment: You will be marked individually for your visual projects. You will also be marked on how you work with the rest of your group. The rubrics for each assessment can be found on the "Maple Leaf Projects" page on the right!
The Different Roles:
1. GEOGRAPHERS (someone who studies the land and how it shapes people's lives)
3. PSYCHIATRISTS (someone who studies how the brain works)
Visual Component:
Create an informational brochure about the mentally handicapped. (There are templates for brochures on your computer.) Questions:
1. What is a mental disability and how does it affect a person's everyday life?
2. What are some of the difficulties in caring for a mentally disabled person?
3. What kinds of support are available for caregivers?
4. What is the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled? Research ideas: A website about the mentally handicapped and their happiness Caregiver stress Another website about the mentally handicapped Resources:
Here are two templates you can use in microsoft word to make brochures:
4. BIOGRAPHERS (someone who studies the lives of people)
Visual Component:
Create a timeline of Steinbeck’s life and works. Use pictures when possible. Questions:
1. Give a short summary of what you have learned of Steinbeck’s childhood and life.
2. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?
3. What influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men? Research ideas: Brief Stenbeck Biography Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Assessment
Here is the rubric will you will be assessed with!
*NEW*
The due date of this project will be Monday, March 15th. This means you have two Wednesday's in the computer lab that you can spend researching it online!INTRODUCTION
John Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men to respond to the struggles and hardships of many Americans during the great depression of the 1930s. Our main characters are migrant workers, (one has a mental disability), who struggle to make ends meet and only have their friendship to guide them to their dreams and hopes. The goal of this project is to increase our understanding of the context of this story so we can better understand the characters and the pressure they face.OBJECTIVE
Understanding of the background of John Steinbeck and his novel will help in understanding all the issues and themes that are presented in his story.NOTE: USING THE DISCUSSION TAB
Have you found a website that other students could use for this project? Post it on the discussions attached to this page! Need help finding something? Ask for help in the discussions tab!WHAT DO WE DO? HOW AM I GRADED?
Step 1: As a group, read the instructions for each role. Each member of the group will be responsible for creating something visual. This visual project should contain answers for each of the questions asked of your role.Step 2: Discuss and choose which roles each of you would like. Although you will work and research together, each person will be responsible for a different part of the project. These are:
ROLE 1: Geographer
ROLE 2: Sociologist
ROLE 3: Psychiatrist
ROLE 4: Biographer
Step 3: Use the internet to research your project! For each project I will provide some links, but you should try to find extra information where appropriate. Post them for other students to use under "discussion."
Step 4: Complete your visual project. You can do this using traditional materials, (paper, felt pens, paint etc) or you could use your computer! For example, try looking at the glogster educational website which allows students to create interactive, digital posters. Once you create one, you would link it to this wiki!
Assessment: You will be marked individually for your visual projects. You will also be marked on how you work with the rest of your group. The rubrics for each assessment can be found on the "Maple Leaf Projects" page on the right!
The Different Roles:
1. GEOGRAPHERS (someone who studies the land and how it shapes people's lives)
Visual Component:Create a map of the area with significant locations identified, including: Salinas, the Salinas Valley, Weed, Soledad, Monteray, Freemont Peak, Gabilan Mountains etc.
Questions:
1. What are the geographical features of the Salinas valley in California?
2. What kinds of jobs are available here?
3. What was John Steinbeck's relationship to the Salinas Valley?
Research Ideas:
Image search - Gabilan Mountains
Salinas Valley/Monteray County farmland
Steibeck and the Salinas Valley
Modern Salinas Valley tourism website
2. SOCIOLOGISTS (someone who studies human societies!)
Visual Component:Create the front page of a newspaper during the depression utilizing information as well as pictures you found during your research as a sociologist.
Questions:
1. What was the Great Depression?
2. What were some of the causes?
3. Who were the migrant workers and how were they affected by the Great Depression?
Research ideas:
The great depression and what it did to Americans (with photos)
Causes of the Great Depression
Photos of the great depression
Resources:
You can make a newspaper cover by hand, or you could try using http://edu.glogster.com/
3. PSYCHIATRISTS (someone who studies how the brain works)
Visual Component:Create an informational brochure about the mentally handicapped. (There are templates for brochures on your computer.)
Questions:
1. What is a mental disability and how does it affect a person's everyday life?
2. What are some of the difficulties in caring for a mentally disabled person?
3. What kinds of support are available for caregivers?
4. What is the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled?
Research ideas:
A website about the mentally handicapped and their happiness
Caregiver stress
Another website about the mentally handicapped
Resources:
Here are two templates you can use in microsoft word to make brochures:
4. BIOGRAPHERS (someone who studies the lives of people)
Visual Component:Create a timeline of Steinbeck’s life and works. Use pictures when possible.
Questions:
1. Give a short summary of what you have learned of Steinbeck’s childhood and life.
2. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?
3. What influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men?
Research ideas:
Brief Stenbeck Biography
Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Assessment
Here is the rubric will you will be assessed with!Project Page